Twiggle

Twiggle - Where a twerk meets a wiggle.

When I saw the fun font and the word Twiggle on the box, I reached for it to see what was inside. As I pulled it off the shelf I saw the word "twerk" and decided it wasn't for me. At the very same moment, the bottom flap opened and the contents fell to the floor. As I was picking it all up, I starting thinking that maybe it was for me after all. It was certainly worth a look see. And that's how I ended up owning Twiggle.

The box claims that Twiggle is a game that will get you moving, and that's no hype. The game consists of four plastic boxes, about the size of a Kleenex box, with an opening in the top large enough for a ping pong ball to fall through. And, coincidentally, ping pong balls are included. There are also four adjustable belts that attach to the four boxes so you can wear them, as in the image below. There is a simple guide to show you how to thread the belt through the box.

Let the twiggling begin.

After loading the boxes with the ping pong balls, kids twiggle - jump, wiggle, lean, dance, bounce (I'm trying to avoid saying twerk) - moving any way that will make their tennis balls fall out. 

The instructions offer directions for 5 different ways to play:

• 1 on 1 Relay - Each player straps on a box with balls (image above) and all players play at the same time, twiggling until someone drops them all. Or put a time limit on it, after 2 minutes whoever has dropped the most balls is the winner. You cannot use your hands or all balls will be replaced and you will have to start over.
• Double Date - Play in teams of two (red vs. blue). The first member of each team plays until all the balls are dropped. Only then can the second team member start. First team to drop all the balls wins.
• 2 Way Relay - Play in teams of two (red vs. blue). Attach two belts and two boxes together, around two players. Players must work together to drop the balls.
• Heads Up - Each player places two hands on a wall until the game begins. They can move in any way as long as they keep at least one hand on the wall at all times and their heads can never be lower than their waist.
• Twiggle Mania - Same as 1 on 1 Relay, except play in teams of two (red vs. blue). First team to lose them all wins.

Try this:

• Strap the boxes to the back. Try to steal ping pong balls from other players boxes. First one to collect three is the winner.
• Let the player use the four step diagram to place the belts on the boxes. Or belt one yourself as the player watches and follows your movements.
• Try wearing the box on the front. Does that make it easier?
• Line the colored boxes up on the floor or table top, without the belts or the lids. Toss the balls into the boxes. Get four in each box. Or, bounce them once on the table so that they jump into the box. 
• Do as in the suggestion above, but call the color before each ball is thrown.
• Do as in the suggestion above but put the boxes at different distance so the player will have to grade the force.
• Work on spatial relations, manual dexterity, gross motor, balance, coordination, motor planning, body awareness, process skills, socialization skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 4 boxes, 4 belts, 26 ping pong balls

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below.

Games with Pegs and Peg Board

Using pegs and pegboards are a good way to work on fine motor skills. Add pattern cards and you can incorporate a number of visual perceptual skills also. These activities can be a great workout. Below are pegboard activities that I have blogged about. Click on a name to go to that post.

Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog - 14 large pegs serve as quills to insert into the hedgehogs back. 

Geoboard Design Center - 20 kid-themed pictures that increase in difficulty as you go. Stretch the rubber bands around the pegs on the 11 x 11 peg grid.

Subtrax - A 1-person, logic game. 15 pegs, 40 challenges.

Peg Friends Around the Town - Nine community helpers and a play map/mat of their offices/work locations.

5ive Straight - A numbered pegboard (0-99) game. Get 5 in a row to win.

Lite Brite Magic Screen - A Lite-Brite unit with six reusable templates.

Design & Drill - A pegboard with bolts and a power drill with 3 drill bits. 20 Patterns.

Creative Pegboard - A wooden peg board with 3 pattern cards and 2 sizes of pegs.

Fanta Color Daisy Pegboard Set - Not your typical pegboard. 240 pegs and a pattern book.
 
Peg Dominos - A circular domino game with mini clothespins.Not pegs in my opinion, but they think so. And it's a fun game.

Picture Peg - A plastic pegboard with six pictures and 200 pegs. A favorite of mine.
 
Fantacolor Junior Pegboard - 8 pattern cards and 48 buttons.

Jumbo Pegs & Pegboards - Foams pegboards with large, colorful pegs.

Lauri Tall Stacker Number Express - A five car train with stackable pegs.

Number Puzzle Boards & Pegs -10 small pegboards for numbers 1 - 10 and stackable pegs.

Brain Builder Peg Set - 18 blocks, 20 pattern cards in three levels of difficulty. Not sure why they call it a peg set except that two of the pieces are peg heads.